Automatic water-stage recorder.



PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

J. P. FRIEZ'; AUTOMATIC WATER STAGE RECORDER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 25, 1903. H0 MODEL.

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No. 776.315. PATENTED NOV. 29, 1904.

J. P..FRIEZ.- AUTOMATIC WATER STAGE RECORDER. Arrmommn FILED NOV. 25, 1903.

Q I 122 haw-f M W X BEST Av NLABLE C No. 776,315. 'PATENTED NOV. 29,1904.

' J. P. FRIEZ.

AUTOMATIC WATER STAGE RECORDER. APPLICATION FILED NQV. 25, 1,903.

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BEST AVAlLABLE COPi U ITED STATES Patented November 29, 1304..

i *J LIEN P. rninz, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Au romArw WATER-STAGE RECORDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of. Letters Patent No. 776,315, dated November 29, 1904; Application flied November 25, 1903. Serial No. 182,663. (No model.)

0 all whom it may cancer/1,:

Be it known that I, JULIEN P. F-nmz, a citizen of the United fitates, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic W ater-Stage Recorders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to auto inatic' water-stage recorders or recording wator-gages designed to measure and record automaticall y and continuously the variations in the height of water or other liquids in tanks, streams, fiunnes, irrigating-ditches,reservoirs, ac. and more particularly to that class of such gages-of which a'specimen is describedand claimed in a priorpatent, numbered 681,536, granted to me on the 27th day of August. A. D. 1901. The recorder described insaid patent comprises a horizontal cylinder arranged to rotate in opposite directions through the medium of a counterpoised float resting upon -the surfce of the body of water, the height variations of which are to be measured and recorded, the rise and fall of said float actu- J ating a perforated tape connected to the float and its countcrpoising weight and. passing over a sprocket-wheel connected with the cylinder, a pen or pencil resting uponasheet of record-paper covering the cylinder being fed or moved contirmously along the length of the cylinder by means of a feed-screw actuated by a suitable motor, such as clockwork.

in the practical use of this rccordcrccrtain improvements in the details of construction have suggested themselves to me; and the obects of this invention are to-iuiprove the mechanisms of the recorderto wit, the guiding and fccdin g mechanism for the recordingpcn, the shaft connection with the cylinder, the arrangement of the sprocket-wheels, the gcarii'ig of shafts, the eudwisc adjustment of the cy|indcrshaft, and the clockwcn-k-nmtor case.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and afterward specifically clinied.

in theaccoinpanying drawin which illuegearing, sprocket wceels, and shafts, the frame and part of the cylinder being shown inelevation; Fig. 6, an elevation of the sleeve; for securing the s 'irockct-wheels on the shaft: Fig. 7, an elevation of part of the gcanregu lating shaft; Fig. 8, a section through the same; F 9, a section through the cy'lindcw shaft-adjusting devices; Fig. 10, a section through the gcar-regulating; ehaft and been 1 ing with the holding plug and screw ready for insertion; Fig. ll, a section through the countor-shaft alongside the gears; Fig. 12, a view of the open bearing ofthe cylinder-shaft; Fig. 13, a sectional view through the clockworkrnotor case, and Fig. 14 a face view of the motor-case and clock.

Like reference characters mark the same parts wherever they occur in more than one figure of the drawings.

Referringspecifically to the drawings. 1 in \licates the base, upon which is mounted the motor, in this instance clockwork, the caseof which comprises a rear plate 2; which supports all of the motor mechanism, inclndiz'ig the face 3 and the hands, a front pl 1 a. and inc-losing rim 5, the front plate and rim being preferably rigidly secured together and removahly secured to the rear plate by means of pillars 6 and screws 7, as clearly shown in Fig. 13, whereby said front and rim may be readily and quickly reinoved, thus exposing the works for cleaning or repair without in any wise disturbing them. The front plate is provided with an opening for exposing the face and the rim with a glazed ins nariionpperr ing 9, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

Upon the base 1 is erected a standard it,

I which supports one end oi a cylindrical rod guided upon the rods 11 and 12 and comprises a tubular body 13, which fits snugly on rod 11 and carries the pen 14,- the latter being pivotallyand adjustably mounted on horizontal and vertical pivot-screws 15 and 16 and held in any adjustment by friction-springs 17 18 in the manner described in my prior patent. Depending from the mid-length of the tubular body 13 is a rod 19,.upon which is loosely fitted a sleeve 20, bifurcated at its lower end and. car ying a friction-roller 21, having an annular groove 22, substantially se'rnicylindrical incross-section and adapted in use to straddle the rectangular rod 12, (see Fig. 2,) contacting with said rod only at its upper corners, whereby freedom of movement thereon is secured withoutsaerificing the special function of the roller, which is to prevent lateral oscillation of the tubular body 13 on the cylindrical rod 11. in yieldingcontact with rod 12 by a spring 23 in the sleeve 20, coiled around a reduced extension 24 of rod 19. A Depending from the tubular body 13 on each side of the rod 19 are brackets 25 26, supporting at their lower ends horizontal. parallel sleeves 27 28, lying at right angles to the body and having reduced bores in their outer ends in which are s'lidably and rotatably mounted rods 29 30, normally pressed inward hy springs 31 32, coiled about the rods and bearing against heads 33 34, which have on their outer faces screw-threads, hereinafter described. The rods-29 and are provided with laterally-projecting pins 35 36, which are normally seated in longitudinal slots in the sleeves, (one of which is shown at 2,) but which may be turned aside to engage the end of the sleeve when it is withdrawn from the slot by withdrawing the rods to I hold the rods and heads in their outer positions, in which positions the rod 29 is shown in At 38 is shown the feed-screw, which is rotatably mounted at one end in the standard 10 and at the other end-in the rear plate 2 of the motor-case, the screw being parallel with rods 11 and 12 and provided with two threads 39' 40, running in the same direction, but of different pitches to correspond with the pitches of the threads of the heads 33 and 34, which respectively engage the threads 39 and 40 when the heads are in their inner positions.

In this instance the pitch of the thread 39 is one-seventh of that of the thread 40, and the latter is in the form of a spiral groove cutting obliquely through the former. The head 33 is provided with a single thread trav cling in the groove, while the head 34 has a -the threads of the screw.

The roller is kept 37 in Fig.

ing in standard 52,

BEST AVAILABLE COPi number of threads, whereby their engagement with'the threads 40 spiral groove or thread 39.

The feed-screw is rotated continuously in one direction by means of a gear-wheel 41, which meshes with a gear-wheel 42, driven by the motor, and the heads 33 and 34 act as nutsections, whereby the pen-carriage is driven during the rotation of the feed-serew so long as either of the threads of the heads engage When the head 33 is engaged'with thread 39, the pen-carriage will be moved thelength of the cylinder in one day; but when head 34 is engaged with thread 40 the pen-carriage will be moved the length of the cylinder in a week.

is uninterrupted by the The cylinder is indicated at 43, supported at its inner end by in an open hearing to plate 2 of the a stub shaft 44, journaled 45 in abracket 46, secured motor-case (see Figs. 1 and 12 and provided at its outer end with a hollow stub-shaft or sleeve 47, fitting down over the reducedend 48 of-a shaft 49 and adapted to be secured thereon by a set-screw 50, engaging in an annular groove 51 in the shaft, .ig. 5. The cylinder carries a record-sheet secured around it, as shown in Fig. 1, and as the feed-screw rotates the pen is moved longitudinally along on the record-sheet, leaving a record-mark. The record-sheet shown in Fig. 1 is a weekly sheet and is intended for use when head 34 engages thread 40 and the pen-carriage takes a week to travel from one end to the other;." but when head is engaged with thread 39 a daily sheet will be used.

The shaft 49 is journaled at one end in a bearing in a standard 52 and passes loosely through openings in standards 53 and 54, the standards being rigidly secured to or forming part of a plate 55, resting on the base 1, the

opening in'standard 53 being threaded to receive a threaded sleeve 56, which fits over the reduced end 48 and forms the bearing for that end of the shaft. A jam-nut 57 is provided on the sleeve 56. Thecylinder may be adj usted slightly endwise by screwing the sleeve: 56 up against theshoulder 58, formed at the junction of'the reduced end 48 with the shaft 49, Figs. 5 and 9, and this action also forces a shoulder 59 on the shaft close up to the hearso that endwise slip of the shaft or of' the cylinder, the sprocket-wheel 60', and gear 61, secured to the shaft, is absolutely prevented and absolutely true turning of the parts assured, the'jam-nut holding the parts in their adjusted positions.

Over the sprocket-wheel 60 and engaged on the pins 62 projecting. therefrom is passed a perforated flexible metal tape 63, which passes downward on each side through slots in the base (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1) and has secured at one end a float.64 and at the other a counterbalancing-weight 65. The float rests on the surface of the water, and as it is raised I up and down by the rise and fall ofthe water and adapted the cylinder is rotated back and forth, causing the pen in its rectilinear movement to dcscri be a waxy rccord-linc on thesheet, thus indicat ing on a properly-ruled sheet the true stage of the water at any and all times. The sprocket-wheel being of the same diameter the cylinder and directly connected thereto, the surface of the cylinder will be rotated exactly the distande the water rises and falls; but as iiZlS sometimes desirable to vary this proportion the shaft 4 9'is provided with the gear 61, which me. hes w th apinion'.

line with eaehother, butjeccentric to theshaft, the end 69 resting in a bearing standard 54 to be secured, therein by means of a plug. T1 and screw 72 (see Figs; 5 and 10) and the end being projectedthrough a bushiameter injits intermedlate'portion, so that sleeve 67 ears only at the ends, and an oilchambor is formed, to which access is bad through a suitable oil-duct76', partially in the. sleeve and partially in aismall sbrocktwvheel 77, all of such mechanisms beingillustrated in detail in Figs.- 5; 7, 8, l0,'and 11'. The pinion 66 and gear-wheel 61 may be of" any desired relative diameters, so that the cylinder-shaft may be rotated as slowly as may be desired with relation to the rotation of the countershaft, and the amount of rotation of the owl inder with relation to the rise and fall of the water may be further varied by the use of a nuniber of sprocket-wheels on the counter shaft, as shown at 77, 77", and 7 7 in Figs. 1 and 5, arranged in the form of the well-known cone-pulleys, such sprocket-wheels being of definite relative diameter in comparisonwith the main sprocket-w heel and the cylinder. The sprocket-wheel 7'? is rigidly secured against nmvcmcnt to the lefton the sleeve-shaft, and when the other sprocket-wheels are placed in -position they arehcld by means of a nut-'78 bearingagainst the wheel 77", as seen in Fig Vlhen it is desired to use only the sprocketwheel 77, a sleeve 79,Fig.' (3, is placed'on the sleeve-shaft between the sprocket-wheel and thenut 78. Whcn the sprocket-wheel 77f is addi-rhthe sleeve 80 is used, and when sprocketwhecl 77 'is also added the sleeve 81 is used in the same position. If desired, either one of the sprocket-wheels 77, 77". or 7'?" may be used with the sprocket-died 77 by using the proper sleeve.

The provision of the eccentric ends 69 and '50 on shaft 68 is for the purpose of adjusting t 1e engagement of the pinion 6 3 with the gear (7. By loosening the screw 72 and turning the shaft by u'ieansof the head thereon the depth to which the teeth of the pinion will enter-between those of the gcanwhecl, Figs. 5 and 11, will be ad usted with the greatest accuracy and all lost mouon, rattle, or inac- BEST AVAILABLE COPE l curacy in the running will be effectually prevented.

To remove the slec 'c-sln-iftti" and all of its Wheels from the machine, it is only necessary loosenthe screw 72 and withdra w shaft 68 i and sleeve 73 through the hearing in standard 7 4. To remove the cylinder 43, it is only necessary to loosen-screw 50, slide the cylinder with stub-shaft 47 oil the end of shaft 48, and lift the stub-shaft 44 out of the open bearing; $5 in bracket 46.

7 By slightly loosening the screw .inder may be adjusted on its axis I 50 the cylto properly positionit and the record-sheet thereon with relation to the pen without affecting theiioat. I This loosening of the screw 50 will also prevent the cylinder from turning with shaft 49, I if desired.

' The sprobket-wheel-GO is secured on shaft a9 by set-screw 83.

WVhileI have specifically described the construction an arrangement of the various I parts, it will be obvious to those skillcd in the art that-many slight changes and variations therefrom might be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent-of the United States, is-- 1. In a water-stage record er, 'tion of a cylindrical l carriage, a sleeve on the pen-carriage slidably with the supporting-rod, a rod projecting downwardly from the pen-carriage, and a roller carried by said projecting rod and engaging the guide-rod in a manner to prevent lateral movement thereon substantially asdescribei i 4 2. in a water-stage recorder, the combination of a cylindrical supporting-rod, a pen- -carriage, a sleeve on the pen-carriage slidably l and rotatably mounted on said rod, a feedscrew, a threaded head on, the carriage engaging the screw, 'a guide-rod below and par 'allel with the supporting-rod, a rod projecting downwardly fromthc pen-carriage, and a grooved roller carried by said projecting rod and straddling the angular guide-rod, substantinlly as described.

in a water-stage recorder, tion of a cylindrical i the combinasupporting-rod, a pen- 5 carriage, asleeve on the pen carrlagc slidably I and rotatably mounted on saidrod, a feedscrew, a threaded head on the carriage engaging the screw, ag'uide-rod below and parallci with the supporting-rod, a red project: ing downwardly from the pen-carriage, and a spring-backed grooved roller carried by said prejecting rod and straddling and yieldingly J engaging the guide-rod, substantially de- 5 scribed. v

l i. in a water-stage recorder, the

combina- 1 ley carried by the tion of -a cylindrical supporting-rod, a penguide-rod angular in cross-section mountedbelow and parallel with the guide-rod, a tubular bracket depending from the pen-carriage, a rod slidably' arranged therein, a .pul-

last-named rod provided with a groove substantially'semicylindrical in cross-section, and aspring for yieldingly holding the pulley astraddle of; the guide-rod in contact with its corners only, substantially as' described.

6. In a water-stage recorder, the combina- 1 tion of a-feed-screw with a plurality of threads of different pitches running in the same direction,aisupporting-rod, a pen-carriage comprising a tubular body slidably mounted on said rod, and a plurality of heads carried by tliepen-Carriage having threads of proper pitches to engage therespective threads of the feed-screw, substantially as described.

7. In a water-stage recorder, the combina tion of a feed-screw provided with a regularlycut thread, and a second thread of greater pitch running in the same direction and donsisting of a groove cutting through the firstnamed threads, 9. pen-carriage, a head thereon with a number of threads corresponding to the first-named threaeha second head on the carriage provided with a plate orfsingle. thread to fit in the spiral groove, and means for causing either head'to be engaged with its respective thread, substantially as described. 8. In a water-stage recorder, the combination of a main shaft journaled in two bearings and projecting beyond one: of them, an open bearing in the same line, a record-cylinder a stub-shaft on one end thereof journaled in the open bearing, a stub-shaft on the other end of the cylinder, and means for slidably and removably connecting the last-named stub-shaft with the main shaft, substantially as described. i

9. In a water-stage recorder, the combination of a main shaft journaled in two bearings BESTAVAILABLE COPE at different points of its length and projecting beyond one of said bearings, an open bearing in line with said hearings, a record-cylinder, a stub-shaft on one end thereof journaled in the open beari'ngi'a sleeve stub-shaft on the other end of the cyliriderslidably mounted on the projecting end of the main shaft, and

means for removably securing it thereon, substantially as described.

10. In a water-stage recorder, the combination of a main shaft journaled in two hearings at different points in its length and projecting beyond one bearing and provided in" the projection with an annular groove, a record-cylinder'provided on one end with a sleeve stub-shaft embracing the Y end of the main shaft, and a set-screw threaded sleeve stub-shaft and bearing in groove in the main shaft, scribed.

the annular substantially as dethrough the 11. In a water-stage recorder, the combination of two standards having alined openings one of which 1s interiorly threaded, a main shaft journaled in one opening and passing loosely throughthe other with a reduced end partly in and projecting beyond the threaded opening forming a shoulder on the shaft, a sleeve bearing upon the shaft threaded into the threaded opening and adapted to bear against the shoulder, andarecord-cylinder se-.

stantially as described.

12. In a water-stage recorder, the combination of a main shaftcarrying a gear-wheel, a

second shaft parallel with the main shaft mounted in bearings and eccentrrcally ad justable therein, means for fixing the second shaft in anyadjustment, a sleeve-shaft turnable on the second shaft, and-a pinion on the sleeve 'shaft always in mesh with substantially as described.

13. In a water-stage recorder, the cornbinirq tion of a shaft having eccentrically-arrangod reduced ends, a bearing, a cylindrical sleeve in the bearing on one'reduced end of the shaft, a bearing for the other reduced end, means for turning the shaft on said reduced ends .means for securing it in any position, a sleeve on the shaft, a pinion on the sleeve, a main cured to the prO ectingend of the shaft, subshaft, and a gear-wheel continuously in mesh with the pinion, substantiallyasdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JULIEN P. FRIEZ.

\Vitnesses:

,A. O. BABnNnRnInn, MURRAY HANSON. 

